U.S. patent application number 15/723064 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-04 for pistol with frame insert.
This patent application is currently assigned to Franklin Armory Holdings, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Franklin Armory Holdings, Inc.. Invention is credited to Ryan Paul Fellows, Jay Leonard Jacobson.
Application Number | 20190101345 15/723064 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 65896020 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190101345 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fellows; Ryan Paul ; et
al. |
April 4, 2019 |
PISTOL WITH FRAME INSERT
Abstract
Pistols with frame inserts have a frame having a grip, the frame
having spaced apart upper sidewall portions having upper edges
defining a slide interface plane, the upper sidewall portions being
planar elements each having inner faces facing each other and
exterior faces facing away from each other, each upper sidewall
portion defining a side opening adjacent to the slide interface
plane and having a perimeter spaced apart from the slide interface
plane, a frame insert including pistol action components connected
to the frame, and the frame insert having opposed insert sidewalls,
each frame insert sidewall having a selected portion registered
with and occupying a respective one of the side openings of the
frame. The frame may define a cavity width between selected
portions of the inner faces adjacent to the frame side openings,
and wherein the frame insert has a width at the selected portion
greater than the cavity width.
Inventors: |
Fellows; Ryan Paul; (San
Jose, CA) ; Jacobson; Jay Leonard; (Minden,
NV) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Franklin Armory Holdings, Inc. |
Minden |
NV |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Franklin Armory Holdings,
Inc.
Minden
NV
|
Family ID: |
65896020 |
Appl. No.: |
15/723064 |
Filed: |
October 2, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 11/02 20130101;
F41A 3/66 20130101; F41C 23/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41A 3/66 20060101
F41A003/66 |
Claims
1. A pistol comprising: a frame having a grip; the frame having
spaced apart upper sidewall portions having upper edges defining a
slide interface plane; the upper sidewall portions being planar
elements each having inner faces facing each other and exterior
faces facing away from each other; each said upper sidewall portion
defining a side opening adjacent to the slide interface plane and
having a perimeter spaced apart from the slide interface plane; a
frame insert including pistol action components connected to the
frame; the frame insert having opposed insert sidewalls, each frame
insert sidewall having a first portion forward of the side opening
and between the inner faces of the upper sidewall portions, a
second portion registered with and occupying a respective one of
the side openings of the frame, and a third portion aft of the side
opening and between the inner faces of the upper sidewall portions;
and wherein the frame insert includes indicia visible in the side
opening of the frame.
2. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the frame defines a cavity width
between the second portions of the inner faces adjacent to the
frame side openings, and wherein the frame insert has a width at
the second portions greater than the cavity width.
3. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the second portions of the frame
insert have exterior surfaces forming an exterior surface of the
pistol adjacent to the exterior faces of the frame upper sidewall
portions.
4. The pistol of claim 1 wherein each said side opening has a lower
edge spaced apart from and parallel to the slide interface
plane.
5. The pistol of claim 2 wherein the frame insert includes a
narrowed portion adjacent to the second portions and closely
received between the frame upper sidewall portions.
6. The pistol of claim 5 wherein the narrowed portion has a lesser
width than the frame at the second portions of the inner faces
adjacent to the frame side openings.
7. The pistol of claim 5 including said narrowed portion forward of
and aft of the side openings.
8. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the frame insert includes an upper
edge in the slide interface plane.
9. (canceled)
10. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the frame insert includes a
plurality of frame rails extending above the slide interface
plane.
11. The pistol of claim 10 wherein some of the rails are forward of
the second portion and some of the rails are aft of the second
portion.
12. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the frame insert includes opposed
parallel enclosed sidewall portions adjacent to the second portions
and to the slide interface plane, the enclosed sidewall portions
defining a gap therebetween having a limited first width, the space
between the second portions being a greater second width.
13. The pistol of claim 12 wherein the second portions are parallel
to the enclosed sidewall portions.
14. The pistol of claim 12 including said enclosed sidewall
portions forward and aft of the second portions.
15. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the grip of the frame defines a
magazine well passage having opposed sidewalls spaced apart by a
magazine well width adapted to slidably receive a magazine having a
magazine width, and wherein the second portions of the frame insert
have interior surfaces spaced apart by an amount adapted to receive
said magazine having the magazine width that is greater than or
equal to the magazine well width.
16. The pistol of claim 15 wherein the interior surfaces are spaced
apart by an amount that is greater than or equal to 0.005 inch and
less than or equal to 0.381 inch wider than the magazine well
width.
17. The pistol of claim 15 wherein the magazine well passage
opposed sidewalls are adjacent to the second portions of the frame
insert.
18. The pistol of claim 15 wherein the frame has a trigger guard
defining a trigger opening, the trigger opening having curved upper
transition surfaces having upper limits immediately below said
exterior faces of the frame upper sidewall portions, each said side
opening having a lower limit at a level below the upper limits of
the curved upper transition surfaces.
19. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the frame insert sidewall
selected portion has an exterior surface flush with exterior faces
of the frame adjacent to the respective side opening.
20. A pistol comprising a housing, a barrel slide movably mounted
on the housing for movement in a firing direction with respect to a
barrel, and a trigger mechanism located, at least in part, within
the housing, the improvement which comprises: a multifunction metal
part removably insertable within said housing; said multifunction
metal part being provided with guides for the barrel slide and a
trigger mechanism support facility; the housing defining a sidewall
opening; the multifunction metal part including a sidewall portion
occupying the sidewall opening; wherein the sidewall portion of the
multifunction metal part includes indicia visible in the sidewall
opening of the housing; and the guides being forward and aft of the
sidewall opening.
21. The pistol of claim 1 wherein the first and third positions
each include slide rails.
22. A pistol comprising: a frame having a grip; the frame having
spaced apart upper sidewall portions having upper edges defining a
slide interface plane; the upper sidewall portions being planar
elements each having inner faces facing each other and exterior
faces facing away from each other; each said upper sidewall portion
defining a side opening adjacent to the slide interface plane and
having a perimeter spaced apart from the slide interface plane; a
frame insert including pistol action components connected to the
frame; the frame insert having opposed insert sidewalls, each said
frame insert sidewall having a selected portion registered with and
occupying a respective one of the side openings of the frame;
wherein the selected portion of one of the frame insert sidewalls
includes indicia visible in one of the side openings of the frame;
and the frame insert having a slide rail spaced apart from the
selected portion in a linear direction selected from the linear
directions including forward and aft.
23. The pistol of claim 22 wherein the slide rail is forward of the
selected portion.
24. The pistol of claim 23 wherein the slide rail is aft of the
selected portion.
25. A pistol comprising: a frame having a grip defining a magazine
well; the frame having spaced apart upper sidewall portions having
upper edges defining a slide interface plane; the upper sidewall
portions being planar elements each having inner faces facing each
other and exterior faces facing away from each other; each upper
sidewall portion defining a side opening adjacent to the slide
interface plane and having a perimeter spaced apart from the slide
interface plane; a frame insert including pistol action components
connected to the frame; the frame insert having opposed insert
sidewalls, each said frame insert sidewall having a selected
portion registered with and occupying a respective one of the side
openings of the frame; wherein the selected portion of one of the
frame insert sidewalls includes indicia visible in one of the side
openings of the frame; and the selected portions of the frame
insert sidewall being above the magazine well and adapted to
closely receive a magazine therebetween.
26. The pistol of claim 25 wherein the frame insert includes a
slide rail aft of the selected portion.
27. The pistol of claim 25 wherein the frame insert includes a
slide rail forward of the selected portion.
28. The pistol of claim 25 wherein the selected portions of the
insert sidewalls are free of structural elements spanning between
the selected portions, such that a magazine is unobstructed.
29. The pistol of claim 25 wherein each said selected portion of
the frame insert sidewalls is free of penetrations.
30. The pistol of claim 25 wherein the selected portion of the
insert sidewalls have flat inside surfaces parallel to and facing
each other.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to firearms, and more
particularly to a pistol with frame insert.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In 1994, Sandy L. Strayer and Virgil P. Trip were granted a
patent for a "frame/handgun assembly for autoloading handgun" (U.S.
Pat. No. 5,293,708). This design was novel and effective for its
time because it allowed the effective use of a steel frame and a
polymer subframe. However, this design was limited in that it was
only designed to work with the manufacturer-supplied subframe. The
consumer could not modify the subframe to fit their hand better.
The consumer could not specify the color of the subframe material.
The consumer could not specify the engraved embellishments of the
exterior. The consumer could not specify the texture, pattern, and
angle or size of the grip, or the size and shape of the trigger
guard. In addition, the Strayer/Trip design did not allow for
modification of the subframe with the intent of making the
subframe, frame, and slide usable and adaptable to a variety of
preexisting magazine designs made by other manufacturers.
[0003] The frame for the P250 pistol manufactured by Sig Sauer,
Inc. of Exeter, N.H. is an ingenious design that allows the user to
register the serialized trigger mechanism and modify the components
around the mechanism. As such, a user can convert their existing
pistol into a different size and caliber P250 by simply purchasing
the Sig Sauer, Inc. components that surround the registered part.
However, this design was limited in that it was only designed to
work with the manufacturer-supplied subframes. The consumer could
not easily modify the subframe to fit their hand better. The
consumer could not specify the color of the subframe material. The
consumer could not specify the engraved embellishments of the
exterior. The consumer could not specify the texture, pattern, and
angle, or size of the grip or the size and shape of the trigger
guard. In addition, this design does not allow the consumer to
modify the firearm to accept magazines from a different model or
manufacturer.
[0004] The P250's subframe technology has the additional
disadvantage of being limited to wide-frame pistols. This
limitation arises from the inability to fit the trigger mechanism
into the subframe without widening the overall frame of the pistol.
The entire subframe must fit within the width of the P250 pistol
less the pistol frame wall thickness.
[0005] Furthermore, both designs above do not provide for the
manufacture of a solid frame, or subframe, with a filled magazine
well. This oversight would likely preclude their manufacturers from
providing the buyers in states with restrictive manufacturing or
import laws, such as California, with a single shot pistol.
[0006] Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved pistol with
frame insert that can be sold with a filled magazine well. In this
regard, the various embodiments of the present invention
substantially fulfill at least some of these needs. In this
respect, the pistol with frame insert according to the present
invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus
primarily developed for the purpose of providing a pistol with
frame insert that can be sold with a filled magazine well.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention provides an improved pistol with frame
insert, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and
drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the
present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater
detail, is to provide an improved pistol with frame insert that has
all the advantages of the prior art mentioned above.
[0008] To attain this, the preferred embodiment of the present
invention essentially comprises a frame having a grip, the frame
having spaced apart upper sidewall portions having upper edges
defining a slide interface plane, the upper sidewall portions being
planar elements each having inner faces facing each other and
exterior faces facing away from each other, each upper sidewall
portion defining a side opening adjacent to the slide interface
plane and having a perimeter spaced apart from the slide interface
plane, a frame insert including pistol action components connected
to the frame, and the frame insert having opposed insert sidewalls,
each frame insert sidewall having a selected portion registered
with and occupying a respective one of the side openings of the
frame. The frame may define a cavity width between selected
portions of the inner faces adjacent to the frame side openings,
and wherein the frame insert has a width at the selected portion
greater than the cavity width. There are, of course, additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and
which will form the subject matter of the claims attached.
[0009] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a left side view of the current embodiment of the
pistol with frame insert constructed in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the frame insert and grip of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a top view of the pistol with frame insert of FIG.
1 with the slide removed.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view of the pistol with
frame insert of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top isometric view of the frame insert of FIG. 1
removed from the pistol.
[0015] The same reference numerals refer to the same parts
throughout the various figures.
DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT
[0016] An embodiment of the pistol with frame insert of the present
invention is shown and generally designated by the reference
numeral 10.
[0017] FIGS. 1-5 illustrate the improved pistol with frame insert
10 of the present invention. More particularly, the pistol of frame
insert has a frame 12 having a front 14, rear 16, top 18, bottom
20, right 22, and left 24. The frame includes a grip 26 and a
trigger guard 28. The frame has spaced apart right and left front
upper sidewall portions 30, 32 and right and left rear upper
sidewall portions 34, 36. Each of the upper sidewall portions has
an upper edge 38, 40, 42, 44 that define a slide interface plane
190. The upper sidewall portions are planar elements each having
inner faces 46, 48, 50, 52 facing each other and exterior faces 54,
56, 58, 60 facing away from each other. Each upper sidewall portion
defines a side opening 62, 64 adjacent to the slide interface plane
and having a perimeter 66, 68 spaced apart from the slide interface
plane.
[0018] A frame insert 70 including pistol action components 72 is
connected to the frame 12 by a front pin 74 and a rear pin 76. The
frame insert has a front 78, rear 80, top 82, bottom 84, right 86,
and left 88. The frame insert has opposed frame insert sidewalls
90, 92. Each frame insert sidewall has a selected portion 126, 128
registered with and occupying a respective one of the side openings
62, 64 of the frame. The selected portion 126 of the right frame
insert sidewall is located between S bends 94, 96. The selected
portion 128 of the left frame insert sidewall is located between S
bends 98, 100.
[0019] The frame 12 defines a cavity width 102 between selected
portions of the inner faces 46, 48, 50, 52 adjacent to the frame
side openings 62, 64. The frame insert 70 has a width between the
selected portions of the frame insert sidewalls greater than the
cavity width. The selected portions 126, 128 of the frame insert
sidewalls have exterior surfaces 104, 106 forming an exterior
surface of the pistol 10 adjacent to the exterior faces 54, 56, 58,
60 of the frame upper sidewall portions 30, 32, 34, 36. Each frame
side opening has a lower edge 108, 110 spaced apart from and
parallel to the slide interface plane 190.
[0020] The frame insert 70 includes a front narrowed portion 112
and a rear narrowed portion 114 adjacent to the selected portions
126, 128 of the frame insert sidewalls 90, 92 and closely received
between the front frame upper sidewall portions 30, 32 and the rear
frame upper sidewall portions 34, 36. The narrowed portions have a
lesser width than the frame 12 at the selected portions of the
inner faces 46, 48, 50, 52 adjacent to the frame side openings 62,
64. The frame insert includes upper edges 116, 118 that also define
the slide interface plane 190. The frame insert includes indicia
120 visible in at least one of the side openings 62, 64 of the
frame. In the current embodiment, the indicia are located on the
right exterior surface 104 of the selected portion 126 of the right
insert sidewall 90. The indicia can include markings that denote a
caliber, manufacture, model, serial number, and/or location.
[0021] The frame insert 70 includes a plurality of front frame
rails 122 and rear frame rails 124 extending above the slide
interface plane 190. The front frame rails are located forward of
the selected portions 126, 128, and the rear frame rails are
located rearward of the selected portions. The frame insert
includes opposed parallel enclosed sidewall portions adjacent to
the selected portions 126, 128 and to the slide interface plane
that are the same as the previously identified front narrowed
portion 112 and rear narrowed portion 114. The enclosed sidewall
portions define a gap therebetween having a limited first width
130. The space between the selected portions has a greater second
width 132. The selected portions are parallel to the enclosed
sidewall portions. The front enclosed sidewall portions are forward
of the selected portions, and the rear enclosed sidewall portions
are rearward of the selected portions.
[0022] The grip 26 of the frame 12 defines a magazine well passage
134 having opposed sidewalls 136, 138. The opposed sidewalls are
spaced apart by a magazine well width 140 adapted to slidably
receive a magazine 142 having a magazine width. The selected
portions 126, 128 of the frame insert 70 have interior surfaces
144, 146 spaced apart by an amount adapted to receive a magazine
having the magazine width that is equal to or slightly wider than
the magazine well width 140. The interior surfaces 144, 146 have a
slightly wider spacing so the frame can support magazines of
different widths (e.g. single stack or double stack magazines)
within the same frame, by substituting a different grip with a
magazine well passage width compatible with the selected magazine
width. For example, in the current embodiment, the interior
surfaces 144, 146 of the frame insert are spaced apart 0.005 inch
more than the opposed sidewalls 136, 138 of the grip. However, in
an alternative embodiment of the grip that accommodates a single
stack 1911 magazine, the interior surfaces 144, 146 of the frame
insert are spaced apart 0.381 inch more than the opposed sidewalls
136, 138 of the grip. It is also believed the interior surfaces
144, 146 of the frame insert would be spaced apart even more than
0.381 inch compared to the opposed sidewalls 136, 138 of the grip
for a grip that accommodates a 0.22 magazine. The opposed sidewalls
of the magazine well passage are adjacent to the selected portions
of the frame insert. The magazine can be removed from the magazine
well passage when a magazine release 178 that protrudes through a
magazine release aperture 180 in the grip is depressed.
[0023] The frame 12 has a trigger guard 28 defining a trigger
opening 148. The trigger opening has a curved upper transition
surfaces 150, 152 having upper limits immediately below parallel
frame side wall surface portions 54, 56. Each of the frame side
openings 62, 64 has a lower limit (lower edges 108, 110) at a level
below the upper limits of the curved upper transition surfaces.
[0024] The selected portions 126, 128 of the frame insert 70 have
exterior surfaces 104, 106 that are flush with the exterior faces
154, 156 of the frame 12 adjacent to the respective side openings
62, 64. The top 82 of the left selected portion defines a slide
lock notch 184 that receives a slide lock 186.
[0025] The frame 12 can also be considered a housing. A barrel
slide 158 is movably mounted on the housing for movement in a
firing direction with respect to a barrel 160. A trigger mechanism,
including a trigger 162 and the pistol action component 72, is
located at least in part within the housing. The frame insert 70 is
a multifunction metal part removably insertable within the housing.
The frame insert is releasably secured to the housing by the front
pin 74 and the rear pin 76. The front pin is removably inserted
through apertures 164 and 166 in the housing and apertures 168 and
170 in the frame insert. The rear pin is removably inserted through
two apertures in the rear 16 of the housing (aperture 172 is
visible) and two apertures in the rear 80 of the frame insert
(aperture 174 in the downwardly protruding left rear lug 176 is
visible). The frame insert is provided with guides for the barrel
slide (front frame rails 122 and rear frame rails 124) and a
trigger mechanism support facility 182. The selected sidewall
portions 126, 128 occupy the sidewall openings 62, 64 such that the
indicia 120 are exposed. Because the indicia are exposed for
regulatory compliance, the pistol 10 can have a polymer outer grip
while still displaying the firearm markings without utilizing
complex or expensive overmolding technology to mold a steel insert
with the required markings into a polymer frame.
[0026] In the current embodiment, the frame 12 is made of a polymer
and has a cavity width 102 of 0.857 inch, a magazine well width of
0.927 inch that receives a magazine 142 having a top magazine width
of 0.9 inch, a width measured from the exteriors of the lower edges
108, 110 of 1.15 inch, and a wall thickness of 0.147 inch. In the
current embodiment, the frame insert 70 is made of steel and has a
limited first width 130 of 0.681 inch, a greater second width 132
of 0.932 inch, a width measured from the exterior surfaces 104, 106
of the selected portions 126, 128 of the frame insert sidewalls 90,
92 of 1.089 inch, and a wall thickness of 0.078 inch. Enabling the
selected portions 126, 128 of the frame insert 70 to have exterior
surfaces 104, 106 that are flush with the exterior faces 154, 156
of the frame 12 adjacent to the respective side openings 62, 64
eliminates the 0.147 inch thick frame wall on both sides, thereby
reducing the width of the pistol 10 by over 0.25 inch at that
location. This arrangement also minimizes the overall pistol width
to the magazine width plus a gap tolerance plus the thickness of
the frame material to provide an overall width of 1.089 inch at
that location.
[0027] In the context of the specification, the terms "rear" and
"rearward," and "front" and "forward" have the following
definitions: "rear" or "rearward" means in the direction away from
the muzzle of the firearm while "front" or "forward" means it is in
the direction towards the muzzle of the firearm.
[0028] While a current embodiment of a pistol with frame insert has
been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications
and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the
true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above
description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations
in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation,
assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one
skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. For example,
the frame insert of the current invention is also suitable for use
with a rifle in addition to the pistol described.
[0029] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
* * * * *